Stories from Gina-Marie Cheeseman
Corporate Responsibility
Massive Oil Spill Off Nigerian Coast May Not Be Contained
Royal Dutch Shell announced on December 21, 2011 that about 40,000 barrels of crude oil leaked into the Atlantic Ocean […]
December 29, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Frito Lay Catches Fire for Mislabeling GMO Products
A lawsuit was filed against Frito-Lay a few weeks ago in federal court for marketing snacks as natural that contain […]
December 28, 2011
Energy
Congress Derails Proposed Guidelines To Restrict Marketing Junk Food To Children
A provision in the $1 trillion spending agreement reached by Congress a few weeks ago undermines the voluntary guidelines proposed […]
December 28, 2011
Energy
How to Make Big Money Recycling Old Appliances
There is money to be made by recycling household appliances and electrical equipment, according to a recent report by the […]
December 20, 2011
Finance
Nedbank and Face the Future Join Forces to Reforest Africa
Nedbank Capital, one of the largest South African banks, and Face the Future, a global forest carbon project developer, signed […]
December 14, 2011
Energy
Three Popular Children’s Cereals Contain More Sugar Than a Twinkie
An Environmental Working Group (EWG) review of 84 popular cereal brands found that three popular children’s cereals contain more sugar […]
December 9, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Global Witness Says Kimberley Process Not Preventing Blood Diamonds
Human rights group Global Witness announced this week that it is removing support for the Kimberley Process, the international scheme […]
December 7, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
UK Quietly Supports Canadian Tar Sands Exports to EU
The UK government has been lending secret support to Canada’s campaign against the EU’s Fuel Quality Directive (FQD), which would […]
November 29, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Bottled Water Marketing Campaigns Target Minorities
Several studies show that minority parents are more likely to give their children bottled water. A study by the department […]
November 29, 2011
Technology
Consumer Reports Launches Eco-Label App For iPhones
Just because a product has a label stating its environmental credentials, it does not mean necessarily that the product is […]
November 28, 2011
Technology
First Wind Power Consumer Label Launched
The world’s first wind power consumer label, WindMade was launched on November 18th at an event hosted by WindMade and […]
November 25, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
How Companies Can Comply with California's Transparency in Supply Chains Act
On January 1, 2012, the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act (SB 657) will go into effect which will require […]
November 24, 2011
Energy
Empire Launches Carpet Recycling Program
Every year, four billion pounds, or 800 million square yards, of carpet ends up in landfills. The amount of carpet […]
November 23, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Toyota’s Fuel Efficient Vehicles and Progress Toward Environmental Goals Highlighted
A few weeks ago, Toyota launched its 2011 Toyota North America Environmental Report (EAP). The EAP report highlights the achievements […]
November 22, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Conflict Minerals in Everyday Electronics
Most of the electronics we use everyday, such as laptops, cell phones and DVD players, are manufactured with tantalum, tungsten […]
November 22, 2011
Technology
Honda Civic Natural Gas Wins 2012 Green Car of the Year
The Honda Civic Natural Gas won the 2012 Green Car of the Year, Green Car Journal announced during a press […]
November 18, 2011
Energy
Agriculture Industry and Solar Developers Battle In California's San Joaquin Valley
During the last part of the 19th century cattle ranchers and farmers battled for supremacy in California’s San Joaquin Valley. […]
November 17, 2011
Energy
Colorado Retools Tire Recycling Program After Denver Post Expose
Colorado lawmakers and business owners are retooling the state’s Waste Tire Program to close a loophole. The Denver Post reported […]
November 15, 2011
Technology
Tesla To Launch Rapid Charging Station Between San Francisco and LA
Makers of electric vehicles (EVs) still have some kinks to work out when it comes to charging the battery. The […]
November 14, 2011
Energy
House Democrats Introduce Carbon Tax Bill
Nine House Democrats introduced a bill on October 24 which would create a “simple tax on carbon,” in the words […]
October 31, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
California Attorney General Files Plastic Water Bottle Lawsuit
California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris filed a lawsuit against three companies over claims that they misled consumers by marketing […]
October 31, 2011
Nature Valley Creates Campaign To Market U.S. National Parks
In a time when many Americans have less to spend on expensive vacations, a trip to a national park is […]
October 28, 2011
Finance
California Finalized Details of Its Cap-and-Trade Program
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) finalized the rules for the golden state’s cap-and-trade program last week. The cap-and-trade program […]
October 28, 2011
Technology
African Clean Tech Association Launches To Help Create Green Jobs
The developing world is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which makes it an imperative to develop clean […]
October 26, 2011
Technology
Dow to Sell Solar Powered Rooftop Shingles in Limited Markets
Dow Solar, a division of Dow Chemical Company began selling its Powerhouse Solar Shingle, rooftop solar shingles, this month in […]
October 26, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Harry Reid Joins Opposition to Keystone XL Pipeline
It seems that the approval of the permit by the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to expand the Keystone […]
October 25, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Nissan Enviromental Plan Sets High Goals
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced its six-year environmental plan, Nissan Green Program 2016 (NGP 2016) on October 24, a plan […]
October 25, 2011
Energy
Starbucks Prepares for Disrupted Coffee Production Due to Climate Change
There’s just something about coffee. From that first sacred sip in the morning while reading the paper to the mid-day […]
October 20, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
What the World Needs Is a Third Industrial Revolution
We need a new economic vision in order to cope with the problems of the 21st century, according to economist […]
October 18, 2011
Finance
Track the Slave Labor Footprint of Common Products
Slavery Footprint is a website, launched last week, which calculates how much slave labor is used to produce the common […]
September 30, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Girl Scouts Finally Pledge to Use Certified Palm Oil in Cookies
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) announced yesterday that they’ve committed to using GreenPalm certified palm oil in their iconic […]
September 29, 2011
Energy
New Balance Creates Sneaker From Recycled Plastic Bottles
The entire upper of New Balance’s new sneaker, called newSky, is made from a fiber called Eco-fi, which is 95 […]
September 29, 2011
Energy
Researchers Link Ethanol Production and Financial Speculation to Rising Food Prices
A recent scientific paper, from the New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI) attributes the increase in food prices in 2007/2008 […]
September 28, 2011
Energy
The "Capital Light" Approach to Climate Change
Some companies are approaching climate change with a “capital light approach,” according to an article by Dr. Rory Sullivan, an […]
September 28, 2011
Voices for Change
The World Loses Environmentalist and Sustainable Development Champion Wangari Maathi
Both environmentalists and sustainable development advocates lost a champion when Wangari Maathi died on September 25, 2011. Maathi became the […]
September 27, 2011
Energy
EDF Climate Corps Fellows Find $650 Million Worth of Operational Cost Savings
This summer, 96 MBA and MPA students placed in 78 companies, cities and universities through the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) […]
September 26, 2011
Energy
How Governments and Businesses Value Payments of Ecosystem Services
Despite the fact that payment for ecosystem services sounds like a crazy treehugger pipe dream, a recent article published by […]
September 26, 2011
Energy
USDA Invests in California Watershed
California is home to epic water rights battles, including one between farmers and environmentalists over use of the Sacramento-San Joaquin […]
September 25, 2011
Energy
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Named Largest Purchaser of Fair Trade Coffee
It’s a good time to be Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR). Fair Trade USA, leading third-party certifier of fair trade […]
September 23, 2011
Energy
Insurers Still Not Factoring Climate Change Risks Into Business Models
More than half of insurers that responded to a National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) climate disclosure survey named market […]
September 9, 2011
Technology
Humboldt Residents Say Not In My Backyard To Wind Farm
A proposed wind power project in California’s Humboldt County ShellWind Energy, Inc. (SWE) is drawing some serious “not in my […]
September 8, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
NASA Scientist James Hansen and Darryl Hannah Arrested at Keystone Pipeline Protest
Things are heating up when it comes to the protests outside of the Whitehouse over the Keystone XL pipeline, a […]
August 31, 2011
Technology
IBM and University of Texas at Austin Develop a Flood Prediction System
In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, which caused flooding on the East Coast, it is good to know that IBM […]
August 30, 2011
Levi's Launches Cause Marketing Blitz
The new phase of Levi’s “Go Forth” campaign supports Water.org, a non-profit organization that finds solutions for water and sanitation […]
August 29, 2011
Energy
PepsiCo To Launch Sustainable Agricultural Initiative Next Year
PepsiCo told Business Green it will launch a sustainable agricultural initiative next year. Dan Bena, director of sustainable development for […]
August 29, 2011
Technology
Brazilian Wind Power Now Cheaper Than Natural Gas
Wind power in Brazil now costs less than natural gas. Brazil’s National Electric Power Agency held a series of energy […]
August 26, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
California Schools Allowed Plastics Industry Edits to Textbooks
How far will industry groups go to protect their interests? A recent exposé by California Watch shows that some will […]
August 25, 2011
Energy
How Recognizing Ecosystem Services Can Make Agriculture More Sustainable
Food prices are predicted to increase by 30 to 50 percent over the next several decades, according to a new […]
August 24, 2011
Michael Bloomberg Gives Millions To Anti Coal Campaign
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a partnership with the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign on July 21 which included […]
August 23, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Why We Should Put a Price Tag on Ecosystem Services
A recent article in the New York Times about the work Stanford University biology professor Gretchen Daily is doing in […]
August 17, 2011
Technology
Citigroup Creates Multimillion Dollar Equity Fund For Sungevity
It’s a good year to be a California-based rooftop solar installation company, as such installations are experiencing a boom in […]
August 16, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Army Recycles Over Six Million Pounds of Steel Containers That Held Chemical Weapons
When the U.S. Army began to decontaminate the 4,307 ton containers (TC) which stored chemical weapons at its Pine Bluff […]
July 28, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Scholastic Sets New Goal For FSC Certified Paper Procurement
Scholastic Inc., the global children’s publishing company, announced goals in 2008 for increasing its procurement of Forest Stewardship Council certified […]
July 28, 2011
Technology
Tesla Partnering With Toyota To Provide Powertrain System for the RAV4
Tesla will provide the electric powertrain system (including the battery, charging system, inverter, motor, gearbox and associated software) for the […]
July 27, 2011
Energy
McDonald's Announces Healthier Changes To Happy Meals
McDonald’s USA announced plans on July 26 to offer healthier choices to its customers. The plans, which McDonald’s is calling, […]
July 27, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Cargill Commits to Certified Palm Oil
Cargill, the global agribusiness company, announced that it will sell palm oil to certain countries from 100 percent certified sources […]
July 25, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
International Paper Reduces Energy Use By 7%
International Paper (IP) reduced its total energy use from 2007 to 2010 by almost seven percent, equivalent to the amount […]
July 22, 2011
Energy
Why Grass Fed Beef Isn't Just Healthier
Organic produce and pasture based meat and dairy have less of an environmental impact than their conventionally produced counterparts, a […]
July 21, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Fortune 50 Companies Lacking in Customer Service
Part of good customer service is maintaining a website with contact information, including a phone number, and links to social […]
July 18, 2011
Energy
The American Enterprise Institute Thinks All Farmers Are Wealthy
The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) is promoting its report this week titled, “American Boondoggle: Fixing the 2012 Farm Bill.” The […]
July 14, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
GE Ad Calls Natural Gas Hot Stuff
A full-page ad in The Washington Post states in big letters, “Natural gas is hot stuff.” A bit of irony […]
June 28, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Silk Tries To Recover From Bad Publicity
It’s not easy for a company to overcome bad publicity. Two years ago, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) called for […]
June 28, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
"Hyatt Thrive" CSR Platform will Improve Local Volunteering
Hyatt Thrive, launched on June 9, will be Hyatt’s “global corporate responsibility platform.” The concept is based around the four […]
June 28, 2011
Energy
Fast Food Garbage Makes up 50% of Street (and Pacific Gyre) Litter
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, aka the Pacific Gyre is roughly the size of Texas and contains about 3.5 million […]
June 27, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Dr. Pepper Snapple Reduces Plastic By Using More Recycled Content
Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. (DPS) released its first CSR report, Sustainability in Action a few weeks ago. The company, […]
June 27, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
L'Oreal Has Big Sustainability Goals
L’Oréal released its 2010 Sustainable Development Report on June 10, which it published as an integrated website. The cosmetics company […]
June 24, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
UN Human Rights Council Endorses Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
The U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) endorsed the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights on June 16. The Guiding […]
June 24, 2011
Technology
Cockpits One Step Closer To Becoming Paperless
The paperwork pilots need to carry can weigh up to 35 pounds, but an iPad weighs only 1.5 pounds, so […]
June 22, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Ford CSR: Carbon Emissions Reduction a Priority
Ford Motor Company, the one American car company that did not need a bailout from the government, released its 12th […]
June 21, 2011
Energy
Developing Countries Pledging Bigger Emissions Cuts
Developing countries are pledging larger greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions than developed countries, a new study for Oxfam by the […]
June 14, 2011
Technology
GE and Partners Secure Financing For 800 MW Thermal Plant in Riverside County
GE Energy Financial Services, Competitive Power Ventures, Inc. (CPV) and Diamond Generation Corporation (DGC) announced that they secured financing for […]
June 7, 2011
Finance
Canadian Company Turns Garbage Into Fuel
The Montreal-based company, Enerkem bills itself as a “leading waste to biofuels and chemicals company” that “manufactures, owns and operates […]
June 3, 2011
Energy
Despite Lawsuit, California Business Leaders Support a State Cap-and-Trade System
California CEOs and business leaders sent a letter to Governor Jerry Brown urging him to not revise California’s cap-and-trade system. […]
June 2, 2011
Energy
Coal Mining Waste Used to Build Houses in South Africa
South Africa needs houses, and coal mining waste should be recycled. Enter Anglo American, a mining company which is using […]
June 2, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Boeing’s Newest Planes Designed To Be More Fuel Efficient, Reduce Carbon Emissions
Boeing’s two newest planes, the 787 Dreamliner and the 747-8, are designed to be more fuel efficient and thus reduce […]
June 1, 2011
Energy
Despite the Cost of Virgin, Recycling Rate for Rare Metals is Very Low
Less than one percent of 34 rare metals studied in a UN Environmental Program (UNEP) report are recycled. Less than […]
May 31, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
43 "Green" Companies Called out for Anti-Environmental Stance
A GreenBiz article asks, “Can a company take on sustainability initiatives — and promote their green credentials — while also […]
May 31, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
New Jersey Leaves the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) announced that his state is leaving the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cap-and-trade […]
May 30, 2011
Energy
HP Manufactures One Billion Recycled Plastic Ink Cartridges
HP’s recently released CSR report touts a variety of accomplishments worthy of praise. The company has manufactured over one billion […]
May 30, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Kohl's Is the Largest Retail Host of Solar Power In North America
Kohl’s released its first CSR report this week, which highlights its sustainability accomplishments in 2010. One of Kohl’s biggest achievements […]
May 27, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
SC Johnson Commits to Sourcing Sustainable Palm Oil
SC Johnson announced earlier this week that it will purchase 100 percent sustainable palm oil by 2015. The company uses […]
May 26, 2011
Technology
DOE Funds Nevada Solar Project Worth $737 Million
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a $737 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy (DOE) for the Crescent Dunes […]
May 26, 2011
Finance
ExxonMobil Shareholders Ask for Disclosure on Tar Sands Investments
Green Century Capital Management filed a shareholder resolution with ExxonMobil to disclose information about its investments in Canadian oil sands […]
May 25, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
The Hypocrisy of Occidental Petroleum
Occidental Petroleum Corporation released its 2010 CSR report, “Growth with Responsibility.” The CSR report states, “We are committed to safeguarding […]
May 25, 2011
Energy
Amazon Joins the eWaste Trade-In Movement
Last week, Amazon joined the array of companies that offer an electronic trade-in program. To trade in an electronic device, […]
May 23, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Rainforest Action Network Activists Arrested at Disney
Four Rainforest Action Network (RAN) activists, two dressed up as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, were arrested outside The Walt Disney […]
May 23, 2011
Finance
McDonald’s Stands Its Ground: Advertising To Children is OK
Corporate Accountability International (CAI) presented a proposal at McDonald’s Corp shareholder meeting yesterday that asked for a report on the […]
May 20, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
GM Plant to Run on Landfill Gas
The General Motors (GM) Orion Assembly Plant in Orion, Michigan, will begin manufacturing the Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano this […]
May 20, 2011
Energy
1/3 of Food Produced for Human Consumption is Wasted
One-third of the food produced for human consumption winds up lost or wasted globally, about 1.3 billion tons a year, […]
May 18, 2011
Corporate Responsibility
Campbell's Decreases Water Use, Increases Energy Use
Cambell’s, the company best known for its soups, released its second corporate social responsibility (CSR) report recently. The report (titled […]
May 13, 2011